Chapter 2
(Chan POV)
Chan, who slightly out-of-breath sat on a bench which was located between two rows of lockers inside the dressing room. His hair, skin, jersey, shorts, down to his underpants were all wet with sweat. Coach really meant it when he said he was going to teach him a lesson.
As soon as their first pre-season practice ended, his young teammates went straight to the shower stalls but Chan truly had no strength to get up. He wasn't even sure if he had the will, not after he found out that someone had recorded the incident at the café this morning, in HD no less, then uploaded and spread the video on all social media.
Chan had watched the 48-seconds video that has gone viral five times, over and over again. The more times he watched, the worse he felt. Right until this very second, he still couldn't believe something like this could happen to him.
Don't get him wrong, Chan never considered himself perfect. Like any normal human being on Earth, he had many flaws, but Chan always tried to do his best, and the rigorous training he received throughout his 20 plus years career as a professional footballer, had shaped him into a very disciplined individual. While other football players were caught in various scandals, be it prostitution, drugs, alcohol, DUI, infidelity, or nasty divorce, etc, Chan has never involved in any of those things.
Usually, when his name entered the hot search, mostly they are related to his actions on the pitch or in the world of football. Like when he debuted for the BSFC senior team when he was only a 16 years old boy. The young center back who graduated from BSFC Football Academy, managed to create one goal and help to keep a clean sheet for his team in that match. The senior goalkeeper who witnessed his debut praised him: 'He made my job 50% easier, he just won't let the enemy pass him.' Or when he was named one of the youngest captains in BSFC history, at the age of 23, and shortly thereafter received a call-up to be part of the national team for the first time.
Career-wise, Chan has never encountered any significant obstacles. The worst injury he had ever experienced was when he and the forward from the opposing team collided in midair. Their heads banging violently against each other, both of them had to be carried off the field on stretchers and could not continue playing. Chan received 5 stitches on the left side of his head and got a two weeks break to prevent concussion. Other than that, there has never been another severe injury that made him unable to play.
When he was 27 years old, Chan was trusted to be the captain of the National Team, it was the proudest and happiest moment of his life for he felt like the whole country cheered for him. It was also this very moment which cemented his nickname that has stuck with him until now. The events that related to it were arguably a bit bizarre and unbelievable. A female idol who's known to be a football maniac and one of Chan's biggest fans, was interviewed the day after Chan's appointment as National Team Captain. When the host asked her opinion on the matter, the idol candidly said on National Television, "What do you want me to say? He got the skills, he got the looks, he 100% deserves this position. Now everybody answers me~ Who's your Daddy, huh? Damn right, it's Daddy Chan!" Ever since that day, whether you football fanatics or not, everybody who recognized him will call him Daddy Chan or simply Daddy. The only exception would be his teammates who called him Cap and of course his Coach.
As far as Chan can remember, it was the only hot search about him that isn't 100% related to football, but still, things that surrounded the moment were quite funny. Whereas today...
Chan frowned for a moment before once again unlocking his cellphone and searching for the video. For the sake of getting clicks, people gave it bombastic titles, such as: 'Naughty Daddy caught red-handed by Coach'; 'Daddy's Sweet Tooth Brings Havoc'; 'Don the Man Rescue Super Captain from Fans' Attack'; 'Give me 20, Daddy!' and many many more. Chan clicked one of the links to open the video and started to watch again.
Chan truly didn't know what motivation had made him watch the cursed clip for the 6th time, the content of the video not going to change from the first time he saw it.
The video still starts with Coach shouting, 'Dio Mio! Chan!' to which he responded with a request for help. He's 180 cm tall and weighs 95 kg of pure muscle, but still, he needed the help of his Coach to get him out of the crowd. With his loud, booming voice, the Italian coach ordered the fans to get out of his way so he could get to where Chan was standing, and like magic, the chaos stopped. The captain didn't know exactly what Coach was shouting at that time, but he was pretty sure they were not exactly nice, because as usual, when Coach emotions were running high, he would mix up English and swear words in Italian. From the speaker of his cellphone, the word 'Cazzo' could be heard clearly several times. Chan and his teammates don't speak Italian, but for that one particular word, all the players who have ever been coached by Don understand its meaning.
'I can understand if young players are doing ridiculous things like this, but you? YOU!? Maccheccazzo! You are my pride and glory, Chan, and you know it! Are you trying to break this old heart of mine? Well, it's already broken! Porca puttana! '
'Yes, Coach.'
'I can't let this go unpunished, you are the captain of this team and you have to set a good example. As soon as we get to the pitch, You. Will. Give. Me. 20!'
'Yes, Coach!'
'Now, move!'
'Yes, Coach!'
Chan pressed pause to take a deep breath for a moment, the humiliation he suffered from being yelled at by his coach in front of fans and cafe regulars like a child – when he was already 36 years old, certainly a hard pill to swallow. As if he didn't suffer enough, Chan pressed play to continue watching.
Before Coach followed him and walked towards the exit of the cafe, he took the time to grab Chan's coffee from the bar. This time, a string of Italian words flew out of his mouth at high speed, and Chan didn't understand them one bit. But if he had to make a guess, then it must have something to do with coffee.
'Che roba è? Che cazzo di robaccia è questa? Solo un coglione rovinerebbe un buon caffè con caramello e panna! I miei nonni si rivolterebbero nella tomba e si strapperebbero i capelli se vedessero questo cazzo di scempio!'
That was the end of the clip, and exactly like the last time Chan finished watching the doomed video, he felt even worse.
"Cap, are you okay?"
Chan heard Pete's soft voice first before he felt the touch of his hand gently squeezing his right shoulder. His co-captain was such a good boy, but Chan needed to confirm something with him.
"Pete, you're the only person I talked to about my plans today, how did Coach find out about this?"
"It's Vegas," said Pete in a venomous tone. Lips that usually put on a smile 24/7, now disappeared without a trace as soon as that particular name left his mouth.
Ah, shit~
Because of the incident this morning, this crucial matter involving these two young footballers didn't even cross his mind, and as the team captain, Chan felt so embarrassed. Since it concerned their team's unity and teamwork, this matter is way more important than his injured pride. Moreover, this season would be his last season, and he wanted to leave a solid and good team for the boys who he already considered as his brothers, every single one of them. As an only child and an orphan – both of his parents already passed away, Chan is a lone-wolf in this world. His teammates are his family. Chan must be able to find the right solution so that this new boy – Vegas, can become part of the family as soon as possible.
Vegas Kornwit, the newest addition to the BSFC team this season, is a talented young footballer with huge potential. Nobody ever thought that the owners of BSFC would bring him here on the last day of the transfer window, for two big reasons: One, Vegas's old team, Bangkok United, was BSFC's arch-enemy. We were talking about a rivalry that had been ingrained for decades here. Two, Vegas and Pete happened to play in the same position, the attacking midfielder.
Chan had already discussed this issue, the overlapping positions of these two young footballers, with Don, but Coach assured him that he already had a brilliant idea for this matter. All Chan needed to do as the team captain was to get these two people willing to work together. However, hearing Pete's completely unfriendly tone just now, Chan couldn't help but think, whether this problem can be solved easily or not.
"What about him?" Inquired Chan to his co-captain.
"Vegas younger brother works as a barista at the Hattrick Coffee Shop. He updated his IG about making coffee for his favorite captain this morning," explained Pete.
Chan covered his face with his hands and asked, "And why do you think this matter has anything to do with Coach finding out I was at the cafe?"
Before Pete got a chance to answer this question, Chan already shot him with the following question, "Did he tell on me?"
Pete was about to open his mouth to answer, but once again he didn't get a chance, because Vegas, who had already finished his shower, suddenly appeared in the dressing room.
"No, Cap, I didn't," answered Vegas. "I was checking on my IG this morning and saw Macau's post about you. I didn't realize that Coach Vadim was standing behind me."
"But he won't know about that IG post if you don't shout Cap's name in that way, am I right?" argued Pete.
Chan took a deep breath to calm himself before he asked for further explanation from Vegas, "What exactly did you say that caught Coach Vadim interest?"
"Uhm… "
"Yes?"
"Oh, Daddy Chan, uhm…"
"You tell him right now or I'm the one who is going to tell him!" shouted Pete, getting super emotional.
"Pete, let him speak," warned Chan to Pete.
"Sorry, Cap."
"Vegas, tell me."
"Oh, Daddy Chan, naughty naughty," answered Vegas with a small voice, his cheeks flushed red.
"He was saying it with such an annoying tone, Cap!" Pete shouted again.
"Cap, I'm sorry. Truly. I have no intention whatsoever to get you into trouble."
Pete snorted, clearly very much in doubt about Vegas' intention.
Ooh, boy~ I need to find a way to make these two get along.
Chan got up from his seat slowly, not gonna lie, the extra 20 laps that he got as punishment made him feel extra tired. After all, he's not in his 20s anymore.
"Alright enough, this conversation ends here. There's nothing else that we can do anyway, it's already happened and done with."
"Vegas, let's just forget it, okay? I know you didn't mean to."
"Thank you, Cap."
"And since this is your first day of training with us, welcome to BSFC," said Chan as he walked carefully to the shower stall.
Fuck, this back-pain is killing me!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
(Tankhun POV)
"Doctor T, your brother is here to see you," informed the Research Center receptionist.
"Just tell him to come in, Sunny. Thank you."
"You're welcome, Doctor T."
Before Tankhun could even put the phone in the correct position, there was already a knock on his door. If Kim was in such a hurry, it seemed like whatever it is that made him come here, must be urgent, and Tankhun couldn't help but feel a bit worried. Because, even though Kim studied at the same University where Tankhun worked, during the 3 years he was a student here, he had only visited Tankhun in his office twice. The last time he did was because Kim needed his help to find him a tutor for Chemistry Class. If he didn't get at least B- in that class, he would be suspended from the University Football Team, something that he cannot afford at that time, for he was running to become the team captain. He wondered what kind of trouble his youngest brother had this time.
"Come in."
"P', what really happened?" asked Kim breathlessly, sweat rolling down from his forehead to his red-pink cheeks.
"Oh my God! Kim, did you just run here?" Tankhun asked his brother back as he stood from his chair, starting to feel worry for real. No greeting, no cue, Kim just immediately questioned him as soon as he walked into Tankhun's office, which, like any other offices in the facility, was painted white with black furniture. But of course, the stationery and file folders that piled on his desk, full of colors. Please... no boring black stationary for Tankhun Theerapanyakul.
"Not important," answered his brother curtly as he took out his cell phone from his backpack, and handed it over to Tankhun. "Here, see for yourself."
Tankhun hit play and watched the video that shows exactly what happened to the great Bangkok Super Football Club Captain after Tankhun left the Hattrick. The longer he watched the video, the more guilt that he had felt this morning returned. Although, when he got to the part where the Coach cursed Chan's behavior of destroying good coffee with caramel, Tankhun wanted to cheer for the coach so badly.
As soon as the 48 seconds clip was finished playing, Tankhun slowly sat back down and returned the cellphone that he held to its owner. Afterward, he braced himself for the storm that was about to come. He was 80% sure about that, because you see, Chan is very precious to his brother.
"Now, could you please tell me what exactly happened this morning at the café?" Kim asked again, with way more urgency from earlier.
"What makes you so sure that I have something to do with this?" Tankhun couldn't help but get defensive. Surely, he has the right to defend himself, right?
"I never said you have anything to-" Kim stopped talking abruptly and then looked at him suspiciously.
OH, FUCK!
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, P'! Why did you say that!?" Kim's voice got sharper now, he looks like a bloodhound on a mission.
"Say what?" asked Tankhun, trying his hardest to look innocent.
Oh, he knew that he had been caught red-handed, but Tankhun was still so stubborn to give up. Yet, he couldn't even look at his brother's eyes anymore.
"OMG, P'!" screamed Kim.
"Kim, lower your voice down! We're not at home."
"P', what have you done?" Kim sounded so down now and once again, Tankhun's guilt surged to the surface. But there was one thing that piqued his curiosity, and Tankhun needed to ask about it first before he came clean to his brother.
"Why are you asking me about this in the first place? You know I never have any interest in football."
"I also know about your habit, P' and every morning at 7.30 sharp you always go to that café to get your coffee. So, it's impossible if you didn't know what happened this morning," explained Kim.
"Oh."
"Yes, OH," mocked Kim. "P', what exactly did you do? He was so humiliated. And just so you know, he never gets into a hot search for things like this."
"I ask him to sign my notebook. For YOU."
"Oh."
"Yes, OH," said Tankhun in an identical tone like Kim. "But it turns out that my voice is not as low as I thought, because the barista at the café, who is also Chan's big fan, heard me. And then, he proudly announced, in a super loud voice, how he has made a Caramel Frappuccino with Double Whipped Cream and Chocolate Chips on top for his favorite Captain."
Kim's shocked face when he heard about his fav footballer's coffee order matched with Tankhun's imagination and prediction, and he's not gonna lie, it felt .Good. Tankhun Theerapanyakul always settles the score.
"P'?"
"Yes?"
"H-he… really drink his coffee like… that ?"
"I know, right?" confirmed Tankhun. "It's shocking… and borderline scandalous, if you ask me."
Kim winced and silenced for a while. He must be still digesting the information he just received.
"Not intentionally trying to cut short our conversation here, brother. But my schedule is crazy tight today, so if you don't have anything else to ask me…"
"I do!" said Kim right away.
Tankhun raised his eyebrows as a response.
"You need to apologize to him, P'."
"What? NO!" Tankhun quickly rejected Kim's request.
"You have ruined his reputation!" Kim insisted.
"I did not, it's the barista's fault!" yelled Tankhun, refusing to stand down. He was being stubborn and he's very much aware.
"P', if you didn't expose him by asking him to sign your notebook, the barista wouldn't know."
"…"
"Don't you feel guilty? At least a bit?" pleaded his youngest brother who has always been his favorite sibling – sorry Kinn, but you already have a super-hot husband.
"Of course, I do!"
"P', this is his last year before retirement. Once this season is over, I will no longer be able to see him playing football. I just want his last year to be a good year, he deserves all the best. You know how important he is to me!"
Kim's teary eyes will always be his weakness, Tankhun folded.
"I will apologize to him. I promise."
"Thank you, P'," said Kim as he gave him a little smile before leaving the Research Center.
TBC
AN:
Thank you, CC, for helping me with the Italian translation. Luv u, bb 3
The Translation:
'Che roba è? Che cazzo di robaccia è questa? Solo un coglione rovinerebbe un buon caffè con caramello e panna! I miei nonni si rivolterebbero nella tomba e si strapperebbero i capelli se vedessero questo cazzo di scempio!'
(What is this? What the fuck is this? Only a lunatic capable of destroying good coffee with caramel! My poor ancestors will weep and roll in their grave if they see this abomination!)
